Sectional record-sorter



E. P. WATERHOUSE.

SECTIONAL RECORD SORTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I920.

1,379,790. Patented May 31,1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

I [22 be 72 Z0 2, ffdwardf/ife 277024 .se

fliorney,

E. P. WATERHOUSE.

SECTIONAL RECORD 30mm.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 8, 1920.

1,379,790. n ed M y 31, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I 72 06/220/4' Edward E/Waiafiozzae) EDWARD I. WATERHOUSE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SECTIONAL RECORD-SORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed March 8, 1920. Serial No. 364,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwann P. WATER- HoUsn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Sectional Record-Sorter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a sectional record sorting device to be used on a desk, or other place, for sorting bank checks, vouchers, record cards, correspondence and, in fact, papers of various kinds and is a distinct and practical improvement to overcome certain important practical objections to, and defects in, the form of sortersnow in use.

The object of my invention is to provide a sorter unit so constructed that a plurality of sorter units may be easily and readily interlocked to form a substantially rigid supporting base for the device when assembled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means to frictionally hold the sorter units in the desired extended position with relation to each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide sorter units which are interchangeable, easily adjustable as to the space desired between the sorter units and which will permit the units to be nested together in packing for shipment, storage, or when not in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide each sorter unit with an inclined index lip so constructed as to permit index slips to be interchangeably carried thereby.

ith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction of a sorter unit and in the combination and arrangement of a plurality of units to provide a sorter device which will form its own supporting base as the units are interlocked in assembling, as will be hereinafter more fully described in the following specification and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of a plurality of sorter units interlocked in assembled relation in accordance with my invention so as to establish their own supporting base.

F ig. 2, is a side elevation of a orter unit.

-F 3 is a front elevation of a sorter unit. Fig. 4, is a top plan view of a sorter unit. Fig. 5, is a sectional view taken on 'line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in direction of the arrow.

Fig. 6, is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a plurality of modified sorter units assembled in interlocked relation.

Fig. 7, is a modified form of the sorter unit shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8, is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 9, is a plan View thereof.

Fig. 10, is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 6.

Briefly, each sorter unit consists of a supporting base plate A, a partition plate B, and an index card retaining lip C. The sorter units are interlockable, interchangeable and form their own supporting base as the units are assembled.

The base plate A is preferably slightly tapered and provided with a pair of suitable hook shaped side folds l to provide slightly tapered opposed ways, or grooves 2 adjacent the lower face and side edges of the base plate A, as clearly shown in Fig.3.

3, indicates an interlocking lip member having slightly tapered side edges formed integral with the base plate A and extending rearwardly therefrom in axial alinement with the supporting base plate A, and is of a suitable thickness or gage after the side edges 4 thereof have been folded under. as at 4 and pressed together from the rear edges a, of the base A, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit the folded side edges of the interlocking lip 3 to be received in the ways 2 of the supporting base plate A, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The upper body or top of the base plate A and the interlocking lip 3 are provided with a plurality of suitable transverse corrugations 5 to frictionally hold the interlocking lip 3 from accidental displacement when two units are interlocked, thereby assuring satisfactory locking engagement of the units and permitting easy and ready extended ad.- j ustment of the units when desired.

The partition B is arranged transversely to the supporting base plate A and is integral with the forward edge of the top thereof, as'clearly shown in Fig. 2. The

partition B is forwardly inclined for a suit able distance from the front edge of the supporting base plate A, as at 6, and then roceeds to extend. upward y and rear wardly a suitable distance finally terminating in a suitable index lip which extends downwardly and forwardly a suitable (listance from the upper edge '7 of the partition It. as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The index lip is provided with a pair of transversely disposed lips which are formed by transversely slitting the lip C and pressing the material on opposite sides of the slit to provide two suitable right angular members 8 adjacent the rear face of the lip which in turn provides a space or way 9 between the members 8 and the rear face of the index lip to receive a detachable or removable index card or slip 10, which Slip '1() is adapted to bear a letter of the alphabet. a numeral. a word. name, or other suitable identification. or index mark, as is manifest.

To assemble the sorter units. it will be observed from Fig. 1. of the drawings. that all that is necessary is to insert the interlocking lip 3 of one sorter unit into the ways 2 of the supporting base plate A of an adjacent sorter unit positioned to the rear of the sorter unit being assembleds It will here be clearly understood. that as each sorter unit is assembled that it provides or forms its own supporting base. and. that when a number of the sorter units have been interlocked, or assembled. that the base is rigid, substantial. and will support the assembled units in the adjusted. or extended positions in which they are placed.

It will be readily seen from the illustration in Fig. 1. that the space between the partition of each sorter unit may be extended. or shortened to meet the needs of the user and that the device while simple. is a compact and convenient bank. or oflice record sorter which will facilitate and expedite the work of sorting papers of various kinds and enable it to be done in a comparatively small space.

It is also evident that a sectional record sorting device as herein described may be extended. or enlarged from time to time as the business requires. by adding additional sorter units. or it may be shortened by reducing the number of units. as is manifest.

lt will be observed. from reading Fig. 1. of the drawings. and as illustrated in dotted lines. that in placing a card. or other paper into the space between the partitions B, of two interlocked sorter units. that if the card, or paper is placed against the inclined lip C that its tendency is to fall and that in fallin the lower edge of the card, or paper will strike or engage the inclined partition section (3 which will have a tendency to force or move the lower edge of the card toward the adjacent sorter partition and cause the upper end of the card, or paper to fall toward the adjacent partition, as illustrated.

By referring to the modified form of sectional record sorting unit illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, it will be seen that the only change that l have made is in the position of the base A and extension 3 with relation to the partition B. lo the preferred form, shown in Figs. 1 to 53, inclusive, it will be observed that the supporting base A and extension 3 extend rearwardly from the partition it, while in the modified form. of sectional record sorting units. the supporting base A and extension 23 extend forwardly from the partition B. The object of having the base A and extension 3 extend rear- Wvardly from the partition 3 permits the sorter units to be packed for shipping and the like, by nesting the units together, as is manifest, owing to the fact that the units are of a substantially Z-shaped formation, wherein the modified form of sorter unit is not a Z-shaped formation. but more of a U- shaped formation which will not permit the units to be packed by nesting them together. In the preferred form of sorter units. it will be seen that the lip extends in the opposite direetion to the base A and extension 3 thereof. while in the modified form of sorter unit the lip (3 extends in the Same direction as the supporting base A and the extension 3 thereof.

It is evident from the foregoingdescription that l have constructed a sorter unit for the assembly of a sectional record sorter which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture and which will facilitate and expedite the work of sorting papers of various kinds.

The many advantages of the herein described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

l do not wish to be understood as having limited myself to the details of, construction shown and described, but desire to have it understood that the invention l have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made in the exact construction and particular arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I reserve the right to make any such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed.

What I claim is:

1. A record sorter of the class described comprising a plurality of sorter sections each base being provided at its forward end with an angular inclined transverse parti tion having its upper end bent downwardly and forwardly to act as an index card holder.

2. A sectional record sorter unit comprising a base having side ways, an interlockin lip extending from said base, said base an said lip each being provided with transversely disposed corrugations, and an angular inclined partition member arranged transversely of the base plate and integral therewith.

3. A sectional record sorter unit comprising a base having side ways, an interlocking lip extending from said base, said base and said lip each being provided with transversely disposed corrugations, an angular inclined artition member arranged transversely of the base plate and integral therewith, said partition extending upwardly and slightly forward a suitable distance from the front edge of the base, then proceeding upwardly and rearwardly a suitable distance and finally terminating in an index card supporting lip which extends forwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the partition member.

4. A sectional record sorter unit comprising a substantial Z-shaped member capable of nesting with another sorter unit, consisting of a supporting base plate having side ways, an interlocking lip extending from one end thereof, an angular partition disposed transversely of the base and integral with the opposite end of the base, and an inclined index card supporting lip integral with the upper end of the partition.

5. A sectional record sorter unit comprising a substantial Z-shaped member capable of nesting with another sorter unit, consisting of a supporting base plate having side ways, an interlocking lip extending from one end thereof, an angular partition disposed transversely of the base and integral with the opposite end of the base, and an inclined index card supporting lip extending from the partition in a direction opposite to the base and integral extension thereof.

6. A sectional record sorter unit comprising a supporting base plate having side Ways, an interlocking extension member-integral with one end of the base plate, an angular partition integral with the base plate and dis osed transversely thereof, an inclined index card supporting lip extending downwardly from the upper end of the partition.

7. A sectional record sorter unit comprising a corrugated base having slightly tapered side edges which are folded under the base to provide a pair of opposed ways,

a corrugated interlocking member havlng tapered sides continuing from the rear end of the'base, and an angular partition mem ger extending from the forward end of the ase.

8. A sectional record sorter unit comprising a plurality of substantially Z-shaped sorter units consisting of a base having side Ways, an extension member integral with the rear end of the base for interlocking engagement in the ways of the base of an adjacent sorter unit, and an angular partition extending from the forward end of each sorter unit base to provide a filing space between the partitions of adjacent sorter units, the base and extension of each sorter unit acting as a floor for the papers or cards being filed to rest upon.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

EDWARD P. WATERHOUSE. 

